This is a Journal entry by depressed sheep

A nameless writeing on Pi

Post 1

depressed sheep

This is a semi strange writing I wrote (duh, its a writing!) about Pi.

A circle is a simple thing, everyone in the class made a cardboard one the other day actually. Simply start by using a compass to draw a circle on a piece of cardboard; then cut out the drawn, cardboard circle. Once it has been cut from the rest of the cardboard measure the diameter (d) of the circle, using a ruler. Once the diameter has been found locate the circumference (c) of the circle by rolling the circle along a meter stick.
A simple affair - yes? No. I say it is not so simple because, indeed, my cardboard creation was not a circle, nor were any of my classmates. Everyone was told to calculate pi using their respective circles; my pi was equal to exactly 3.10. While my classmates results were as follows: 3.14, 3.16, 3.14, 3.13, 3.16, 3.13, 3.16, 3.03, 3.03, 3.12, 3.13, 3.13, 3.14, 3.21. And all throughout ancient texts p is stated as being a different number. Pi is even addressed in the bible! In a description of the Temple of Solomon a great cauldron, containing some molten substance, is described as having a diameter of 10 cubits (roughly the length of a forearm) and a circumference of 30 cubits. Thus making p equal to exactly 3.
The problem of the circle has puzzled man for thousands, if not more, years. The problem of the circle is that it is nothing more then an idea - a pure idea. A circle can not, by any stretch of the imagination, exist materially/physically. It can not exist because a circle is made up of a number of points, which are all equidistant from a center point, on a single plane. A point is just a space, it is not a "tangible" thing. Thusly, a circle is made up of a number of intangible things!
The problem of the circle goes much beyond this however; one can not envision a perfect circle in ones own mind. A perfect circle can not be imagined for two reasons - firstly, no one has ever seen a perfect circle, this means you have nothing to base your envisioning of a circle off of. The second reason ties into the first very tightly, you can not SEE a perfect circle, because it is made up of these infamous points. It would have no width, just a type of length. How can you envision something which is invisible? You can not.
Why envision a perfect circle though? Why not attempt to utilize other senses to perceive this nearly paradoxical shape? A person can not imagine a new color, but a person can imagine a new tactile experience. So, while we, has humans do not have the capacity, as of yet, to "see" a perfect circle, we may have the capacity to "feel" a perfect circle.
Or, there is another answer to the perceiving of a perfect circle. One can completely "replace" ones senses, with math. Which can embrace, and make use of pure ideas, and thoughts. This is what the great Archemidies did, when he found p. He was able to cast aside the material world, and even harder then that, all material thoughts to find p - to seek it out. To further the riddle of the circle.

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I don't really think that it is worthy of being "guided" but, I wanted to do somthing with it!
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An' jus' incase anyone cares, or is even reading this I am a tenthgrade, male student, who lives in Washington DC, aka the trifect from hell state area, aka the capitol of the united states of america *shivers*. I like music, and I plane not to tell you anything else about myself! smiley - smoochsmiley - tongueout


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A nameless writeing on Pi

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